God turns evil that men do into good.

 

64. God turns evil that men do into good:  JUDAISM: Psalms: 16:4 “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Isaiah: 45:7 “I form the light, and create darkness, (we realized that darkness was the lack of the presents or the absence of light); I make peace, and create evil; I The LORD do all these things.” God makes something like light for instance, which makes us realize the presence of darkness as a byproduct or He created good, which makes us realize the concept of not good or evil. In the Bahá’í Faith we have the belief that God can use events of this world that seem evil in their nature and make good come out of it. Things that seem evil in nature are not always evil once the end result is known. We find in Genesis, in the story of Joseph where his brothers sold him into slavery. Genesis: 50:19 “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” Genesis: 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis: 50:21 “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” Had Joseph not been sold into slavery he wouldn’t have been in the position, through God’s grace, to feed the many people that came to Egypt in search of food during the great famine and he wouldn’t have been in the position to help his family when the need arose. Genesis: 45:4 “And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.” Genesis: 45:5 “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” Genesis: 45:6 “For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.” Genesis: 45:7 “And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Genesis: 45:8 “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” The story of Joseph and his brothers is a prime example of God taking an act of men that is seemingly completely evil in nature and turning it around for the greater good of those people involved and the betterment of the world in general. And this type of story is repeated numerously throughout the whole bible. Deuteronomy: 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which The LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Deuteronomy: 8:16 “Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;” For example, had Jesus Christ not allowed himself to be crucified on the cross: CHRISTIANITY: Luke: 23:33 “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Would Christianity have spread completely around the world affecting the lives of millions of people for the betterment of the entire world. And what of the afflictions suffered by the Báb and Baha’u’llah? The energies released from their pain and suffering will revitalize the world not just for a thousand years, but the effects of their revelations will be felt for the next five hundred thousand years:

And then there is the persecution of the two newest revelations of God that man tried to eradicate off the face of the earth; The Babi religion and the Bahá’í Faith, so savagely persecuted that the dire events of the time went down in the annuals of modern day genocidal infamy:  BABI RELIGION: “issued orders to persecute the Bábís, imagining that by overweening force he could eradicate and suppress matters of this nature, and that harshness would bear good fruit; whereas (in fact) to interfere with matters of conscience is simply to give them greater currency and strength; the more you strive to extinguish, the more will the name be kindled, more specially in matters of faith and religion, which spread and acquire influence so soon as blood is shed, and strongly affect men’s hearts.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 332)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Physical torture and death were ineffectual to stop the onsweep of the reformation inaugurated by the Báb. When, some years later, BAHA’U’LLAH arose as the one who was expected, thousands accepted him and at once came under his banner. BAHA’U’LLAH was not personally related to the Báb, nor had he ever seen him, though he became one of the first disciples of the Báb’s teachings.”

“Dreadful persecution ensued and more than twenty thousand martyrs joyfully gave up property and life rather than renounce the faith which they recognized as divine truth. At such variance were his teachings with the creed-bound world about him that BAHA’U’LLAH, with his family and followers, was banished to Bagdad, to Constantinople, to Adrianople and finally to the penal colony of Akká in Syria.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 5)

“The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Strong-hold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 99)

JUDAISM: Genesis: 15:13 “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; Genesis: 15:14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. The Hebrew children, after the time of Joseph, lived the lives of servants in Egypt for over four hundred years being afflicted by their masters. In this time the Hebrew children greatly multiplied in number till their number was as vast as the sands of the sea shore: Genesis: 22:17 “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;” In this four hundred years of their captivity the Hebrew children lived in conditions that were favorable to their multiplying in number. They had the food they needed to flourish and the security of a great nation to protect them from harm. Had they existed on their own they would constantly have lived in danger from their enemies and they lived the lives of a semi nomadic people raising herds of cattle, conditions not favorable to the formation of a great people and a great nation.

God took all the years of hardship and bondage suffered by the Hebrew children and formed a great nation and a great people out of them. God took an apparently bad situation that appeared to be against the children of Israel and raised them to glory. He took what appeared to be great evil and made great good come out of it.

BAHA’I FAITH: “In creation there is no evil; all is good. Certain qualities and natures innate in some men and apparently blameworthy are not so in reality. For example, from the beginning of his life you can see in a nursing child the signs of desire, of anger, and of temper. Then, it may be said, good and evil are innate in the reality of man, and this is contrary to the pure goodness of nature and creation. The answer to this is that desire, which is to ask for something more, is a praiseworthy quality provided that it is used suitably. So, if a man has the desire to acquire science and knowledge, or to become compassionate, generous, and just, it is most praiseworthy. If he exercises his anger and wrath against the bloodthirsty tyrants who are like ferocious beasts, it is very praiseworthy; but if he does not use these qualities in a right way, they are blameworthy.” “Then it is evident that in creation and nature evil does not exist at all; but when the natural qualities of man are used in an unlawful way, they are blameworthy.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 320)

For example: God formed light and this in turn created the concept of darkness or the absence of light, because you had to have the knowledge of the light God formed to realize its byproduct which was darkness, or the absence of light which was in reality nothingness, not part of something God actually had to form, with all His creative might, but a consequence of the light: JUDAISM: Isaiah: 45:7 “I form the light, and create darkness:” BAHA’I FAITH: “Now as to the Power that knoweth no limitations; limitation itself proveth the existence of the unlimited, for the limited is known through the unlimited, just as weakness itself proveth the existence of power, ignorance the existence of knowledge, poverty the existence of wealth. Without wealth there would be no poverty, without knowledge no ignorance, without light no darkness. Darkness itself is a proof of the existence of light for darkness is the absence of light.” (or nothingness) (Compilations, Baha’i World Faith, p. 344)  “I make peace, and create evil:” (or the absence of good), “We know absence of light is darkness, but no one would assert darkness was not a fact. It exists even though it is only the absence of something else. So evil exists too, and we cannot close our eyes to it, even though it is a negative existence.” (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 512)  “Just as darkness is but the absence or lesser degree of light, so evil is but the absence or lesser degree of good; the undeveloped state.” (Baha’u’llah and the New Era, p. 195) Therefore:  JUDAISM: Psalms: 16:4 “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” We know that evil is the nonexistence of good, but the wicked are there to bring about the day of evil, which God will in turn bring good out of for that individual or someone else. This is the cycle of good and evil and good again.  “Everything in existence is good, and only the lack of goodness make a thing evil. The being is created good, but when the lack of good is to be seen in it, then it becomes bad. Evil is not created by God.” (Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 500)

 ISLAM: 99. Then when they entered the presence of Joseph, he provided a home for his parents with himself, and said: “Enter ye Egypt (all) in safety if it please Allah (God).” 100. And he raised his parents high on the throne (of dignity), and they fell down in prostration (all) before him. He said: ‘O my father! this is the fulfillment of my vision of old! Allah hath made it come true! He was indeed good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you (all here) out of the desert, (even) after Satan had sown enmity between me and my brothers. Verily my Lord understandeth best the mysteries of all that He planneth to do: for verily He is full of knowledge and wisdom.”’

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  12)

 22. “Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Lord; establish regular prayers; spend, out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  13)

 70. “Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  25)

 35. “Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial: to Us must ye return.” “Can the good bring forth evil?’ The Prophet said, ‘Good never brings forth evil.’’’ “think it not to be an evil to you: on the contrary it is good for you:”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 21, 24 and Hadith, Bukhari Vol 2, Book 24, # 543)

ZOROASTRIANISM:  “Mazda doeth so ordain that “Out of evil cometh good.” (Hymns of ATHARVAN, Zoroaster p. 30)

 “Evil is not wholly evil. In tackling it the soul acquires moral strength i.e. competence for nearness to God. This is a relieving feature of sin.” “Even evil operates for the ultimate good.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan pp. 120 and 121)

 “Evil is only apparently evil. It is ultimately for our good. It helps us to build our character and character is necessary for God realization which is our ultimate and permanent good.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 405)

 “Mazda as the upholder of moral order, is sure to give His support to Zarathushtra and to punish his enemies. The punishment would, however, be for their own good, to lead them to the path of rectitude. Why should God, who is all kindness, inflict punishment on anybody unless it is for his good.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 832)

 HINDUISM: 6. “He is beyond all the forms of the tree (of the world) and of time, He is the other, from whom this world moves round, when one has known Him who brings good and removes evil, the Lord of bliss, as dwelling within the self, the immortal, the support of all. Make us blameless,   Even as Ye did set free, O bright ones, O Ye that are worthy of offering,”

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 2, Svetasvatara-Upanishad and Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda IV)

 BUDDHISM: 9. “Let no one underestimate good, thinking, ‘It will not come near me.’ Even a water-pot is filled by the falling of drops of water. A wise person becomes full of goodness even if one gathers it little by little.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 17. “Overcome anger with freedom from anger. Overcome evil with good. Overcome meanness with generosity, and Overcome a liar with truthfulness. Speak the truth, don’t get angry, and always give, even if only a little, when you are asked. By these three principles you can come into the company of the devas.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

 SABEANISM: “He sundered Light from darkness and sundered Good from Evil, He sundered Life from Death, And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and from Evil to Good And from Death to Life and set them On roads of Truth and Faith.” He sundered good from evil. He broke apart or separated out the good of existence from that which only appears to be evil, anti-good, nothingness. “Begone, be vanquished and brought to naught before the glory and light of Manda-d-Hiia (God)!” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 17 and 75)

 “I go down before these souls whom The Life delivereth and saveth, and protecteth these souls from all that is evil. and support of life, that thou givest no room to evil.”  ‘secure, seal and guard’ say ‘secure, seal and guard this soul of (this one), and establish it and evil will be removed. They will be freed from fetter and bond.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 13, 17 and 24)

BAHA’I FAITH: “God — does not only punish the wrongdoings of His children. He (also) chastises (them), because He is just, and He chastens (them) because He loves (them). Having chastened them, He cannot, in His great mercy, leave them to their fate. Indeed, by the very act of (His) chastening them He prepares them for the mission for which He has created them. ‘My calamity is My providence,’ He, by the mouth of Bahá’u’lláh, has assured them, ‘outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy.”’ So, God, by the very act of chastising and correcting His children, is turning that which appears to be evil into something that is good for us in the long run.

(Bahá’í Faith,  Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 115)